Resting in God (Song Story “Come to Me”)

I wrote the song “Come to Me” 7 or so years ago when I was working as a Youth Pastor. I remember it was spring, which was a particularly busy time for me then. In addition to my usual duties (preaching at youth group, leading worship, running youth events, bible studies, meeting with students, etc.) I had been asked to preach a couple of Sunday mornings and had an almost steady stream of all-nighters, quiz meets, and retreats. If I recall, there was also a lot of conflict in the church at that time, and while it didn’t affect me directly, it weighed heavy on my mind.

On top of all of this, my Ruth was pregnant with our son, Isaac, and was incapacitated with nausea (she suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum with both pregnancies), meaning I had to take care of all the cooking, cleaning, laundry etc, and look after little Hannah, who was 2 at the time. All that to say, things were terribly busy and I was spent.

I remember walking to the church one warm spring evening to prepare for yet another event. There was still a month to go with a big youth trip and a windup event to get through before summer holidays could begin and I could finally put my feet up and recharge. The finish line was in sight, but it was still a long way off. I remember crying out to God and saying, “I’m finished! I don’t have what it’s going to take to get through the next month. Help me, Lord!”. I remember walking through the pathway that leads to the park next to the church, which I used to cut through on my way to work, and as I turned the corner, I saw the most gorgeous sunset glowing through the trees. It warmed my face, and I remember instantly feeling a sense of relief, almost like I was being carried. A scripture verse I’d read earlier that day immediately came to mind,

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31 NIV)

And half a step behind the verse came the beginnings of a song. It wasn’t long after that that the rest of the song materialized.

A few months later, I taught the song to some of the musicians at my church, and we used the song a few times as a call to worship. I was shy to tell anyone I wrote it, and I think it might have been years later, after Broomtree was recorded before my wife realized I’d written it.

The song has sort of fallen out of rotation with me over the past few years as new songs have moved in to take it’s space, but it came to me again and I found myself singing it one morning last week. It’s funny how songs can take on a different meaning in new circumstances.

This spring was been a stark contrast to my frenzied days as a youth pastor. I’ve only had a few shows each month since Christmas, and while this season is usually slow, it’s been especially so this year. I’ve been occupied with the usual office stuff, contacting prospective concert hosts, printing posters, mailing CD’s and promotional material, etc., but it’s been anything but hectic. With little work to do, most of my mental energy turned into worry and stress.

It was in the midst of this, that the song came back to me. “Come with me to a quiet place and I’ll give you rest, rest for your soul.” It started playing over and over again in my head as though the Lord was inviting me to rest in Him all over again, not from busyness, but from worry.

Just like I learned to trust God for physical and mental strength to meet the demands I faced as a youth pastor, I’m learning to trust God for daily bread as an independent musician. I’ve found that no matter what situation I find myself in, there’s always grace available to meet whatever situation I find myself in. Joy and peace comes not from a resolution of my circumstances, but rather from the knowledge that God is faithful and that He holds everything in His capable hands.

Now it bears mention that this kind of resting is not just being passive or lazy. On the contrary, resting in God is a choice. It is a conscious act of the will. And remaining in that rest means continually choosing the path of rest, and actively resisting the temptation to worry or fear. It’s also far more than just having a sort of vague hope that everything will work out. Instead, it involves placing your trust in a personal God who holds not just your world, but all things in the palm of His hand.

I find I need frequent reminders to continue on resting in Him. That’s where songs come in. I write songs to help myself (and others too) to remember these things. And to that end, I offer you this one:

“Come To Me”

Words and Music by Keith Kitchen. Copyright 2006

Come with me, to a quiet place And I’ll give you rest, rest for your soul Come with me to a quiet place And I’ll take all of your wounds and make them whole Lay your burdens down at My feet And come for My yoke, is easy And I will wipe away all of your tears And I will wash away all of your sins Come to Me Why spend your money on what is not bread? Why labor for food that won’t keep your children fed? He who drinks the water I give Will never Thirst again

Come with me, to a quiet place And I’ll give you rest, rest for your soul Come with me to a quiet place And I’ll take all of your wounds and make them whole

Lay your burdens down at My feet And come, for My yoke is easy I will wipe away all of your tears I will wash away all of your sins But I can’t help you if you won’t Come to Me

You can listen to the song or purchase it on my Bandcamp site. (CLICK HERE)

Comments

Leila Ward

on 29.05.2014

at 10:46 AM

Trying to type through tears…
Good morning Keith,
Your CD Rumours of Light that was lost and then found after a year lives in my LR CD player. My younger grandson Westin is here for a sleepover and your music was softly playing
“love is wild and free and it chooses where it goes and who can make any sense of how it ebbs and it flows” ‘ sometimes I wonder if it isn’t more trouble than it is worth’ and I said to Westin that we could see you on my 32 inch computer monitor, which we did and then listened to Come to Me. And no surprise that your song Come to Me is so fitting for me today.
It is a difficult time but my gentle God sustains me. I am due for 3 separate surgeries, in pain, scheduled for May 30 hip replacement and then…my daughter the Personal Trainer and mom of my beloved little boys is told she has melanoma and needs invasive surgery on her right bicep June 6. My stuff becomes insignificant, mine is mechanical repair, hers is life threatening. The day she told me how much was to be cut I waited until I was alone then I wailed like I never have before in my life. My treasure, God’s beautiful wondrous creation, this daughter Genny. I WILL be strong for her, she laughed when I told her I would happily give her my skin, if it’s a match, I have plenty extra and have no vanity about my mother body. My mom and sister had breast cancer, I have had a touch of melanoma as has Genny’s dad. I do not rant at God, never have. God doesn’t cause this stuff, it just happens but, my creative, loving, powerful God has carried me 68 years through all kinds of misery and I trust and believe.
Saturday evening service Stuart McKnight returned from the surgery that will save his voice. I led a standing O. I had spent the day needing to be alone with my God, just quiet. When I got to church I sat in my usual row and no one else did, and beside me was a walker used by a handicapped lady, I saw these as signs that I was to ponder the decision I had made to postpone my hip op and take care of my little family. Genny was to be the one feeding me in hosp 4 days and taking care of me 24/7 for 5 days in her home following my surgery. Yes I could find paid people to do those things but I chose to wait for Genny’s return to health, and put my whole being not prayer and help.
About your Penticton concert, if I could drive at night I would come, but I have cataracts evolving. I pray for a successful tour, warm welcomes and strong connections for you. You touched my life, and I will always be grateful.
Leila Ward